Oil-purifying system.



W. S. ELLIOTT,

OIL PURIFYING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20' I914.

1,242,667. Patented 00a 9,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR W. S. ELLIOTT.

I OH. PURIFYING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20' I914.

1,242,667. Patented Oct. 9,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Maw/0 7 ,51 M

WILLIAM. S. ELLIOTT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

OIL-PUBIFYING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 191 '7.

Application filed June 20, 1914. Serial No. 846,332.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburghfin the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oil-Purifying Systems, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Fi re 1 is an end elevation of an oilpuri ing system constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section of the filter which I prefer to employ; and

Fig. 3 is apartial cross section on the line IV--IV of Fig. 2.

My invention relates to the cleaning and purifying of oils, particularly those used in electric transformer and electric switch work. Under continued use, the oil in such cases becomes contaminated with water, carbon in suspension, and other impurities. The water and other impurities decrease its insulating qualities and necessitate cleaning thereof at proper intervals.

My invention is designed to provide an improved system for treating such oil, wherein the oil is purified without exposure to moist air and is similarly stored without exposure to moist air, thus keeping it in proper condition, after purification, for use in such or similar apparatus.

The invention also consists in a preferred form of filter of simple and eflicient construction.

In the drawings referring to Fig. 1, 2 represents a pipe leading from the transformer or other device in which the oil has been used or stored, this pipe connecting to a T 3, from one arm of which the pipe 4 leads to pump 5. The pump 5 delivers into a T 6, from one branch of which the pipe 7 leads into the top of the dirty oil tank 8, the

other arm of the T 6 having a pipe 9, lead ing to the point of use. The pipes 7 and 9 are rovided with, valves 10 and 11. From the impure oil tank 8, a pipe 12 having a In the use of this system, when the dirty oil is to be drawn from the apparatus wherein it is used, or from the storage point, the valves 19 and 10 are opened and the valves 18 and 11 are closed. The oil is then pumped up into the tank 8, from which it may flow by gravity through the valve pipe 12 to the purifying apparatus 14. The tank 8 is open to the atmosphere. From the purifying apparatus the purified oil runs into the tank 16, an when it is desired to supply it to the point of use, the valves 19 and 10 are closed and valves 18 and 11 are opened, and the pump draws the oil from the pure oil tank and supplies it to the point of use.

I will now describe the preferred form of purifying apparatus which I employ, this being shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. The tank 14 is provided in its upper portion with a compartment 20, from which a pipe 21, leads down into the lower portion of the tank. In the compartment 20 is provided a float valve 22, which controls the inflow of oil from the pipe 12 and keeps the level in the tank 14 substantially constant. Within the tank 14 is a central circular compartment 23, from which leads the outlet 15 for the purified oil. To the upper portion of the wall of this compartment 23, which extends above the normal level of the oil in the tank, are secured annular baflies 25 and 26, shown in this case as two in number. The outer bafile 26 extends practically to the oil level, while the inner baflie, which is perforated in its lower portion, extends to a point well above the oil level. Around the baflie 26 is provided a depending bafiie 27, and the oil, rising around the outer baffle 26, overflows its top, descends between it and the bafiie 25 and rises through the lower holes in the latter baffle.

The filtering material consists in this case of an annular layer of long double-backed fibers 28, which are folded down on both sides of the upper part of the compartment 23. Their inner portions are held in place by the inner cylinder 29, and the perforated plate 30 of fIllSllOrCOIllCfil shape.

The oil is carried up by capillary attraction among the fibers over the top of the compartment 23 and descends to the perforated plate 30, from which it drips down into the inner receptacle 23.

The oil in this tank is heated by any suitoil is heated, some of the water will pass off in the form of vapor, and the remainder,

being separated as waterby reason of the temperature, will drop to the bottom of the tank and can be drawn outthrough the control opening 34. The water vapors, rising within the tank, will pass out through the pipe 35, having an outwardly opening check Valve 36, or be taken up by the dehydrating material just referred to.

In the form shown, the dehydrating material 37 is placed in a receptacle 38, secured to the removable top of the tank, this top having an air-tight joint with the tank. Into the receptacle 38 leads a curved surrounded by a foraminous gauze 40, around which the dehydrating material is packed. Secured to the removable top 41 of this receptacle, which is held by a suitable clamping device 42, is a curved pipe 43, having an inwardly opening check valve 44.-

When the oil is lowered in the tank, air will enter through the pipe 43, and this moisture will be extracted in the compartment 38 before it enters the tank; and when the oil level is raised in the tank, the air therein will be forced out through the check valve 36, and whatever enters the container 38 will have the moisture absorbed therein. As a slight pressure is required to open the check valve 36, the dehydrating material acts to take up the water vapors formed, at such low pressures as not to open this valve. In the use of this purifying and filtering apparatus, the oil supplied thereto is kept at a constant level and as it becomes heated, the hot oil rises, and the water drops to the bottom. The oil passing between the baffles is lifted through the wicking and drips down on the inside into the pure oil container. Owing to this heating, some of the moisture will have evaporated and will be this provision, the pure oil stored taken up by the dehydrating material. Furthermore, any moisture present in the tank in starting will be taken up by this same material.

The pure oil tank 16 is also provided with one of these dehydrating compartments, shown at 38 in Fig. 1. This compartment may be similar in all respects to that shown in Fig. 2, and this pure oil tank is also provided with a check valve outlet, equipped similarly to the pipe 35, shown in Fig. 2. By in this tank will be kept out of contact with moist pipe 39,

air, while at the same time air is allowed to enter or escape from the tank as the level of the oil therein varies.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those' skilled in theart. The oil is purified, while out of contact with moisture, and is also stored while out of contact with moisture. It is therefore kept in first class condition for use after purifying is carried out. The dielectric strength of the oil is thus maintained" to a high degree, thus avoiding the contamination of the oil "after purifying, while it is" being stored preliminary to use.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particular construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, since the different parts of the apparatus may be constructed and arranged 1n various ways within the scope of the appended claims. Thus the filter may be changed as desired, and many other changes may be made without departin from my invention, since I consider mysef to be the first to purify oil in a dry atmosphere, and also the first to store this purified oil in a dry atmosphere.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for purifying oil, comprising a receptacle having a purifying chamber, means in said chamber for separating water from the oil, and means communicating with said chamber for absorbing water vapors, substantially as described.

2. Apparatus for purifying oil, comprising a receptacle for the impure oil, means for heating the impure oil to drive off the contained water, and capillary filtering means for the heated oil, substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for purifying oil, comprising a receptacle for the impure oil, means for heating the impure oil to drive off the contained water, and capillary filtering means, for the heated oil, together with means communicating with said receptacle for absorbing water vapors, substantially as described.

4. Apparatus for purifying oil, comprising a receptacle having a purifying chamber, means for heating the oil in said chamber, a capillary filter for conducting the heated oil out of said chamber, and means communicating with said chamber for absorbing water vapors, substantially as described. v r

5. Apparatus for purifying oil, comprising a receptacle having a purifying chamber, means for heating the oil in said chamber, a capillary filter for conducting the heated oil out of said chamber, and means communicating with said chamber for absorbing water vapors, said chamber having an air inlet extending through said waterabsorbing means, substantially as described.

- compartment havin 6. An oil-purifying apparatus, comprising a receptacle having a chamber for impure oil, means in said chamber for separating out the contained water and for filtering the dehydrated oil, and an oil storage means communicating therewith for absofiling water vapor, substantially as described.

7. Apparatus for purifying oil, comprisinga receptaple having a purifying chamber, means for heating the oil in said chamber, a capillary filter for conducting the heated oil out of said chamber, and means communicating-with said chamber for absorbing water vapors, together with an oil storage receptacle for the purified oil and also having in communicatlon therewith means for absorbing water vapors substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set Witnesses:

GEO. B. BLEmNe, H. M. Conwm. 

